Mark Kirk: “We have seen that several hundred thousand Americans each year exercise their COBRA rights to continue health care…”

“We have seen that several hundred thousand Americans each year exercise their COBRA rights to continue health care insurance for their families after they are laid off or leave employment. But, each year, over 200,000 Americans will reach the end of their 18-month COBRA period and then be unable to continue their health care insurance. If they have a preexisting condition in their family, they could then be left out of a coverage pool later. I think that is why it is so important that, at the discretion of the family, at their own cost, they can continue that health care insurance to have peace of mind.”